The route for the 101th Tour de France was unveiled yesterday at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. Le Tour de France 2014 will leave from the UK, from the county of Yorkshire, with three stages quite tailored for punchers, that will lead us to London. Mark CAVENDISH (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) shows natural ambition, as the first stage will bring him back to his childhood land. (see the video above)

This 2014 edition will also show its uniqueness with a return to the cobbled sections, nine exactly, of the legendary Paris-Roubaix. The famous “Carrefour de l’Arbre” will be a decisive moment of this stage, where any falls or bike malfunctions could cost the final win. This tricky fifth stage is looking particularly stressful for the pack.

5th stage: Ypres – Arenberg (156 km)

With five summit finishes, the Big Loop (The Grand Boucle) will take its time in the Vosges with mid-mountain stages that will climb the Petit Ballon d’Alsace and the Planche des Belles Filles.
Before heading to the Alps, a Leader should emerge since the ascent to Chamrousse and the Izoard will be a testing passage for the riders.
It will really be in the Pyrenees though that the riders will start to cement their positions with two tough summit arrivals at the Plat d’Adet and Hautacam.

The 18th stage will also be the scene of the prestigious cyclosportive ‘L'ETAPE DU TOUR’, a challenge taken-up every year by about 12 000 passionate riders coming from all over the world.

18th stage: Pau – Hautacam (145 km)

In another twist of this year’s route, there will be only one time trial between Bergerac and Périgueux on lowland roads, which has not happened in more than 50 years. 54 km-long, this time trial will demand more than an hour of effort at full power. Over three tough weeks, the riders will have to manage their efforts to be able to make the difference on this final hurdle.